DIFC FinTech Hive broadens 2018 programme

The 2018 edition will build on the success of the DIFC FinTech Hive’s inaugural accelerator programme

Image used for illustrative purpose. People walk outside the Gate Building at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

REUTERS/Nikhil Monteiro

By Staff Writer, CPI Financial

The region’s first financial technology accelerator’s upcoming programme will expand its themes to include insurance, Islamic finance, and regulatory technology services, and will continue to bridge the gap between innovative tech entrepreneurs and financial industry giants in line with Dubai Plan 2021 and the Centre’s 2024 Strategy.

This year’s cycle will welcome First Abu Dhabi Bank, Arab Bank, and Noor Bank as new Financial Institution partners, along with returning partners such as Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Citigroup, Emirates Islamic, Emirates NBD, HSBC, Mashreq, Standard Chartered, UAE Exchange and Visa. The participating Financial Institutions will ideate, collaborate and partner with start-ups in a wide-ranging 12-week mentorship and networking programme. Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre (DIEDC) will feature as a strategic partner again this year and will focus on reaching start-ups in Islamic Finance, an important pillar for the region.

In addition, FinTech Hive at DIFC will collaborate with Accenture’s FinTech Innovation Labs globally to further cement the accelerator’s position amongst the most reputable financial hubs in the world. The move will bring about countless opportunities for innovators in the region, by connecting them to the international FinTech ecosystem.

“Since 2010, roughly $100 billion has been invested globally into the FinTech industry, clearly demonstrating that there is an immense appetite for this sector’s development. The exceptional quality of the proposals we received last year is a testament to the bright ideas and immense talent this region has to offer. As we move into the second year of the programme, the expansion of FinTech Hive at DIFC into new disciplines will lead to the discovery of new solutions that are uniquely tailored to the Middle East and North Africa,” said Amr Elsaadani, Managing Director and Financial Services Lead for Accenture in the Middle East and Turkey.

In its first year of operation, the accelerator saw 11 start-ups working closely with financial institutions to create solutions in artificial intelligence, big data and analytics, mobile payments and roboadvisory that address the evolving needs of the region’s financial services industry. Two start-ups from that group were granted Innovation Testing Licences from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), allowing them to develop and test innovative concepts within the DIFC in a controlled manner, without being subject to all the regulatory requirements that normally apply.

The growing fintech community received recently, Virtual I, the region's first insurance technology company; and DIFC’s first two regulatory technology companies, Amani and RegulAtion Technology Solutions.

DFSA joins the ecosystem again this year to provide regulatory guidance for financial institutions and start-ups. In addition to offering an Innovation Testing Licence, the DFSA is continuously enhancing the Centre’s regulatory framework to support the development of new FinTech products and solutions.

The accelerator invites start-ups from the region and around the world to pitch their ideas to join a programme that grants them invaluable access to, and feedback from, potential clients and investors. After a rigorous selection process, the programme moves into a 12-week curriculum that includes mentorship opportunities and workshops with financial institutions, regulatory bodies, insurance companies, and more among other partners in the UAE. Applications will open in May 2018, and the programme culminates with an Investor Day in November 2018.

Most Active Stocks

The Financial & Risk business of Thomson Reuters is now Refinitiv.All names and marks owned by Thomson Reuters, including "Thomson", "Reuters" and the Kinesis logo are used under license from Thomson Reuters and its affiliated companies.